Vega Magic is the dominant $2.40 top elect in Ladbrokes fixed-odds markets for Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and is expected to tighten further if he fares reasonably at Tuesday morning’s barrier draw.

Black Caviar won the 2012 Goodwood as a $1.05 chance.

“There is no doubt that Vega Magic is the class horse in the Goodwood field and he has been the only horse that punters want in futures betting, especially following the withdrawal of Shoals last week,” Ladbrokes spokesman Tom Hackett said.

“If Vega Magic draws well, there is no reason that he won’t start the Goodwood as an odds-on favourite.

“He started the Manikato Stakes as a $2 favourite during the Spring Racing Carnival and that was a much stronger field than what he will face at Morphettville on Saturday.

“He currently accounts for 13 of our 15 biggest bets on the race. The other two are Voodoo Lad.

“He shapes as being a very bad result for us if he is able to record a third Group 1 win.”

The Lindsay Park stable also has Thronum, Derryn and Spieth among the 36 Goodwood nominations. Thronum is a certain starter, co-trainer Ben Hayes confirming the horse had been booked on a Tuesday-night flight from Brisbane to Adelaide.

Vega Magic tuned up for his Goodwood defence with a solid track gallop at Flemington on Monday.

“He worked on the grass at Flemington and went very well,” Hayes said.

“We galloped him over five furlongs and he worked home in really good time.

“We’re very happy with him. Everything’s right on track for the Goodwood.”

There could be as many as seven South Australian runners in this year’s Goodwood when the final field of 20 plus four emergencies is drawn.

SA mares Viddora and Mica Lil are both guaranteed a start, Casino Wizard and Steel Frost also look certain to make the cut, while Lope de Capio, Riziz and Lord Aspen would also start if some higher-ranked interstate horses are withdrawn as expected.